TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING II
UNIT 1
History of Indian Railways
Introduction In the year 1832 the first Railway running on steam engine, was
launched in England. Thereafter on 1st of August, 1849 the Great Indian
Peninsular Railways Company was established in India. On 17th of August
1849, a contract was signed between the Great Indian Peninsular Railways
Company and East India Company. As a result of the contract an experiment
was made by laying a railway track between Bombay and Thane (56 Kms).
 On 16th April, 1853, the first train service was started from Bombay to
Thane.
 On 15th August, 1854, the 2nd train service commenced between Howrah
and Hubli.
 On the 1st July, 1856, the 3rd train service in India and first in South
India commenced between Vyasarpadi and Walajah Road and on the
same day the section between Vyasarpadi and Royapuram by Madras
Railway Company was also opened.
Subsequently construction of this efficient transport system began
simultaneously in different parts of the Country. By the end of 19th Century
24752 Kms. of rail track was laid for traffic. At this juncture the power, capital,
revenue rested with the British. Revenue started flowing through passenger as
well as through goods traffic.
Organizational structure
Railway zones
Indian Railways is divided into several zones, which are further sub-divided
into divisions. The number of zones in Indian Railways increased from six to
eight in 1951, nine in 1952 and sixteen in 2003. Each zonal railway is made up
of a certain number of divisions, each having a divisional headquarters. There
are a total of sixty-eight divisions. Each of the sixteen zones is headed by a
general manager who reports directly to the Railway Board. The zones are
further divided into divisions under the control of divisional railway managers
(DRM).
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TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING II
Component parts of railway track
The Typical components are – Rails, – Sleepers (or ties), – Fasteners, – Ballast (or slab
track), – Subgrade
GAUGE The clear minimum horizontal distance between the inner (running) faces of the
two rails forming a track is known as Gauge. Indian railway followed this practice. In
European countries, the gauge is measured between the inner faces of two rails at a point
14 mm below the top of the rail.
GAUGES ON WORLD RAILWAYS Various gauges have been adopted by different
railways in the world due to historical and other considerations. Initially British Railways
had adopted a gauge of 1525 mm (5 feet), but the wheel flanges at that time were on the
outside of the rails. Subsequently, in order to guide the wheels better, the flanges were
made inside the rails. The gauge then became 1435 mm (4'8.5"), as at that time the width
of the rail at the top was 45 mm (1.75 "). The 1435 mm gauge became the standard on
most European Railways.
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TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING II
DIFFERENT GAUGES ON INDIAN RAILWAYS
The East India Company intended to adopt the standard gauge of 1435 mm in India also.
This proposal was, however, challenged by W. Simms, Consulting Engineer to the
Government of India, who recommended a wider gauge of 1676 mm (5 '6 "). The Court
of Directors of the East India Company decided to adopt Simms's recommendation and
5'6 " finally became the Indian standard gauge. In 1871, the Government of India wanted
to construct cheaper railways for the development of the country and 1000 mm metre
gauge was introduced. In due course of time, two more gauges of widths 762 mm (2 '6 ")
and 610 mm (2 '0 ") were introduced for thinly populated areas, mountain railways, and
other miscellaneous purposes.
Broad Gauge: When the clear horizontal distance between the inner faces of two parallel rails forming a
track is 1676mm the gauge is called Broad Gauge (B.G) This gauge is also known as
standard gauge of India and is the broadest gauge of the world. The Other countries using
the Broad Gauge are Pakistan, Bangladesh, SriLanka, Brazil, Argentine, etc.50% India‗s
railway tracks have been laid to this gauge.
Suitability: Broad gauge is suitable under the following Conditions:- (i) When sufficient funds are
available for the railway project. (ii) When the prospects of revenue are very bright. This
gauge is, therefore, used for tracks in plain areas which are densely populated i.e. for
routes of maximum traffic, intensities and at places which are centers of industry and
commerce.
2. Metre Gauge: When the clear horizontal distance between the inner faces of two parallel rails forming a
track is 1000mm, the gauge is known as Metre Gauge (M.G) The other countries using
Metre gauge are France, Switzerland, Argentine, etc. 40% of India‗s railway tracks have
been laid to this gauge. Suitability:- Metre Gauge is suitable under the following
conditions:- (i) When the funds available for the railway project are inadequate. (ii)
When the prospects of revenue are not very bright. This gauge is, therefore, used for
tracks in under-developed areas and in interior areas, where traffic intensity is small and
prospects for future development are not very bright.
3. Narrow Gauge:When the clear horizontal distance between the inner faces of two parallel rails forming a
track is either 762mm or 610mm, the gauge is known as Narrow gauge (N.G) The other
countries using narrow gauge are Britain, South Africa, etc. 10% of India‗s railway tracks
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